Steroids and Immunomodulating Agents

Historically, corticosteroids have been used to reduce inflammation and to suppress immune function in a wide range of diseases. Corticosteroids remain first-line agents to treat several neurological disease states, including myasthenia gravis (MG) and neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD). While effective, their lack of target specificity can cause a myriad of unwanted side effects. Therefore, more specific novel pharmacological agents have been developed. These include immunomodulating agents, which have greater specificity and a reduced risk of adverse reactions. This chapter provides a review of the use of corticosteroids and immunomodulating drugs mechanism of action, safety profile, and the use in neurological diseases.